9 tricks to jump-start weight loss (even before you start a diet)

Health

GDN Online Desk

9 of 9

(Reuters File Photo)

Finally, exercise

“Diet will only take you so far,” says Waehner. “Eventually, you’ll reach a plateau and exercise is the best thing you can do to boost your calorie burn.” Exercise helps you build lean muscle tissue and lose more fat, which helps change your body composition, Waehner adds.

“Muscle is more metabolically active than fat. The more you have, the more calories you burn all day long,” she says. “I recommend that people just get more active,” says London. She suggests to her clients that they take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk to work if possible, ride their bike, play outdoors with their kids, or walk the dog.

Jennifer Giamo, a nutritionist, certified personal trainer and founder of New York City-based Trainers in Transit, recommends incorporating exercise into your workday. “Walk over to a coworker instead of sending an email,” she says. Wear a fitness tracker to track your steps, aiming for 10,000 non-exercise-related walking steps a day.